Water distribution.



. Nuo. 707,448. 1 Patented Aug. I9, |902. W. `O NEILL &. W. H. GORDON.

WATER DISTRIBUTION.

(Application med June 24, 1961.) 2' sheets-sheet l.

(No Mnd'eI.)

no. 707,448. Patented Aug.` 19, 1902. w. oNEsLL & w. LGDBDUN WATER DISTRIBUTION.

(Application led June 24, 1991.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

w|TNEssEs=- |NvENToRs=- Xt N a llnrrn rares VESLEY ONEILL AND VILLIAM Izl. GOIRDON, OF RUSSELLVILLE,

PENNSYLVAN IA .WATER DISTRIBUTIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,448, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed June 24, 1901.

To all whom, zit may concern:

Beit known that we, WESLEY ONEILL and VILLIAM H. GORDON, of Russellville, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in YVater Distribution, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to isolated systems of water distribution such as are used in rural communities and which consist of an elevated tank adjacent to a well or stream, a pump operated bya windmill or other intermittent source of power, and suitable piping connections, including a main supply-pipe extending from the pump to the tank, in communication with the tap-outlets. The tanks aforesaid are usually exposed upon skeleton towers, and whether inclosed or not the supplypipes leading to and from them are liable to be ruptured by water freezing therein while the pump is in operation and the water is at rest within said pipes.

It is the particular object of our invention to provide a valve for the supply-pipe of a tank of the class specified so constructed and arranged as to establish free communication between said pipe and the water in the tank while the apparatus is in operation and while the apparatus is out of operation to exclude the water in the tank from said pipe and place the latter in communication with the atmosphere, so that all of the water may be withdrawn from said pipe to eliminate the possibility of rupturing the same by the freezing of water therein.

Our invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a convenient embodiment of our improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the valve shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of said valve. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of said valve, taken on the line 4 t in Fig. 3.

Referring to said figures,'A is the reservoirtank, conveniently elevated upon the skeleton tower A and adapted to contain a supply of water B. The waterB is delivered to and distributed from said tank through the-main Serial No. 65,734. (No model) supply-pipe C, which is vertically disposed within said tower in communication with the pump through the pipe C' and also in communication with the outlet-taps, as indicated at c. The valve-casing D is directly connected with said supply-pipe C within the tank A, and the main port D of said casing opens into the water-s pace in said tank. Said port D comprises the seat d for the valve-head D2, which latter is provided with the gasket d for contact with said seat. Said valve-head D2 is conveniently formed in integral relation with the lever D3, which is fulcrumed at d3 in the bracket-arm D4', which projects from the casing D in fixed relation therewith. In order to limit the movement of the valve-head D2, we provide the bracket-arm D4 with the abutment d4, arranged to contact with the lever D3, and to insure the proper registry of the head D2 with the seat d we provide the casing D with lateral guide-lugs o7.. Said valvehead D2 is provided with the vent-port d2, which extends through the lever D3 in communication with the pipe D5, which latter is open to the atmosphere above the normal water-level in the tank A. Said pipe D5 is conveniently formed of sections d5, as indicated in Fig. l, so as to be adjustable to various heights with respect to the tank A. The top of said pipe D5 is conveniently provided with the yoke D, to the opposite sides of which are attached the iiexible connectors E E, which extend over the sheaves c e to any position conveniently accessible to the operator.

During the normal operation of the device above described the valve-head D2 is uplifted from its seat, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, and retained by the connector E, so that the water may be continuously delivered to or from the tank A through the pipe C. When, however, the device is out of operation, the water within the pipe C would of course be at rest and liableto freeze and burst said pipe C. Therefore when the l*use of the apparatus is to be discontinued over night or at any other time the operator releases the connector E and shifts the pipe D5 bythe connector E to the position shown in full lines in Fig. l. The valve-head D2 closes the main port D', and the water B in the tank A IOO is excluded from said pipe C. Thereupon,the pipe C being ,placed in communication with the atmosphere through the pipe D5, the tap c may be opened and all of the pipes drained of the water normally contained therein. When it is desired to resume the normal operation of the apparatus, the connector E is released and the pipe D5 drawn to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l by means of the connector E, thereby opening the valve-port D, whereupon the Water B flows Within the pipe C in communication with the tap c and the pipe C is placed in communication with the tank. It is to be noted that if the operation of the pump is accidentally resumed While the Valve is in the closed position (shown in full lines in Fig. l) the water delivered through the pipe C is vented at the top of the pipe D5 and falls within the tank A.

We do not desire to' limit ourselves to the precise details of construction and arrangement hereinbefore described, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein Without departing from the essential features of our invention.

We claiml. The combination with the tank A; of the.

water-supply pipe C; the valve-casing D,xed in communication with said supply-pipe, and provided with the main port D; the lever fulcrumed on said casing; the valve-head D2, upon said lever arranged to register With said port D; the vent-port d2, in said lever; the pipe D5, connecting said port d2, with the atmosphere; and the flexible connectors E, E', operatively attached to said pipe D5, upon the opposite sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. In a valve, the combination With a casing provided with a main port; of a bracketarm projecting from said casing; a lever fulcrumed in said bracket-arm; a valve-head upon said lever arranged to register With said main port; a ventfport extending through said valve-head and lever, in communication with the atmosphere; and iiexible connectors attached to the opposite sides of said vent-pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. In a valve, the combination with a casingprovided with a main port; of a bracketarm projecting from said casing; alever fnlcrumed in said bracket-arm; aV valve-head upon said lever arranged to register with said main port; a vent-port extending through said valve-head and lever, in communication with the atmosphere; and an abutment fixed npon said casing to limit the motion of said valvehead With respect to said main port, substantially as set forth.

4. In a valve, the combination with a casing provided with a main port; of a bracketarm projecting from said casing; a lever fulcrumed in said bracket-arm; a Valve-head upon said lever arranged to register with said main port; a vent-port extending through said valve-head and lever, in communication with the atmosphere; an abutment fixed upon the bracket-arm of said casing, arranged to limit the motion of said valve-head With respect to said main port; and guides upon said valvecasing for said valve-head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names, at Russellville, Pennsylvania, this 13th day of June, 1901.

WESLEY ONEILL. WILLIAM H. GORDON.

Witnesses:

E. L. HABLAN, HOWARD HARLAN, Jr. 

